Key Facts
| Squad | Worcester |
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| Position | Full back |
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| Age | 28 |
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| Height | 1.65m (5'5") |
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| Weight | 64kg (10st 1lb) |
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| Caps | 54 |
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When Danielle Waterman first pulled on an England jersey she became her country’s youngest player at the time and went on to win her 50th cap in the opening match of the FIRA-AER European Cup against Spain in Rovereto, Italy last May.
Nicknamed Nolli, Danielle has scored 33 Test tries and currently appears in the position that her father Jim occupied in 400-plus senior matches for Bath Rugby. She said: “He has been my coach and mentor throughout my whole playing career.” The game is distinctly in the family with her brothers Sam and Joe both playing county rugby at age group and senior level. John Barnes, the kicking coach and a colleague at Hartpury College, is another guiding influence on her career.
Nolli is now an AASE (Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence) talent development officer for the RFU at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, developing potential elite players in the 16 to 18 year age group. She said: “It is great to see girls that I have coached progress through the RFU pathway.” Danielle was educated at West Somerset Community College and Oldfield Sports College and attained a BA (Hons) in Leisure & Sports Management.
After appearing for Clifton (2003-08) and Blaydon (2008-09), she joined Worcester but her playing days had began with Minehead Barbarians when she was four. Danielle has represented England Sevens, picked up an award as her country’s Most Promising Player in 2006 and was twice nominated for major accolades in 2010 – the IRB Player of the Year and the IRPA Try of the Year.
She has also led South West U16 and U18, Clifton Ladies, England Sevens and A team and was England’s vice captain during the 2012 European Championships. Before the 2010 World Cup final took centre stage, the Amsterdam Sevens in 2008 was her stand out memory. She said: “We beat New Zealand in the final. It was the first tournament we had played together and came just before the Sevens World Cup.”
Susie Appleby, her coach at college and fellow player when at Clifton, has had a strong influence on her career and Richie McCaw and Shane Williams are also on her ‘rated most highly’ list.
Danielle added: “I want to lift the World Cup at Sevens and 15s and win a medal at the 2016 Olympic Games!”
Last updated: February 05, 2013
